Bustle



(No Model.)

M. G. HARTMAN. BUSTLB.

No. 586,034. Patented July 6, 1897.

we NORRIS Firms :0. Pgmmu'rnu. WASHINGTON. u. o

NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARIA O. HARTMAN, OF WILMINGTON, DELAIVARE.

BUSTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,034, dated July 6, 1897.

Application filed January 2, 1897. Serial No, 617,780. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, MARIA O. HARTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVilmin gton, in the county of Newcastle and State of Delaware, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bustles 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a bustle according to my invention in position for service. Fig. 2 represents the same inverted. Fig. 3 represents the bustle as seen from above when not in service and permitted to distend itself normally. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bustle before the top has been folded and secured together.

5 represents the body portion of the bustle,

made of any suitable fabric, such, for example, as cambric, silesia, or silk. The lower edge of this body is preferably provided with a wide hem, and at a little distance above the edge a hoop 6 is secured around the body. This hoop is preferably thin-spring-steel covered with fabric as sold on the market for such purposes. The covering protects the adjacent goods from being worn by the steel and serves as a means for sewing the hoop to the body. With the hoop attached the body is to be secured together at the ends, forming a ring, as shown in Fig. 4:. Now about three-quarters of the circumference of the body and hoop are to be laid in plaits or folds, then the upper edge of the folded portion is to be joined with the upper edge of the plain portion and be sewed together, and over this edge may be secured a binding, forming the waistband of the bustle. In gathering the plaits at the waist due consideration must be had to the formation of folds at the hoop edge, in order that the piled folds cumulate the luxuriant puffiness of the coming fashion.

The spring is a complete hoop, and thus returned upon itself in loop-shaped folds it is very resilient and supports the dress with grace and elegance, with great ease to the wearer. It is extremely light, simple, and inexpensive. It may be made in such proportions as to extend around over the hips of the wearer, and more than one spring-hoop may be used, if desirable, andit may be arranged to form more or less folds in the center or at any other point of its contour, according as the fashions vary. The variety of designs of which it is susceptible in this respect under the dressmakers hand to meet varying fashion-s, its simplicity, its lightness, and the degree of perfection with which it accomplishes its purpose as a bustle highly commend it.

Having thus fully described my invention,

' what I believe to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

A bustle comprising two elements, a strip of fabric and a spring, one of which is endless; the fabric being in two layers one of which is in folds above the other and secured thereto along one edge; the spring being narrow and secured to the fabric along the other or free edge thereof and formedinto loopshaped folds therewith and so held thereby substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARIA O. HARTMAN. -Witnesses SAMUEL D. FORBES, THOMAS H. LALLY. 

